NOIDA, Oct. 4 -- The Noida authority on Friday approved a sweeping decision to cancel the allotment of residential plots that have remained vacant for over 12 years, making this one of its strictest measures in recent years against non-compliant plot owners. Under the new rule, any allottee who fails to build a house on their plot within 12 years will lose ownership. Those currently under construction will be granted a grace period of up to six months to complete the work and obtain a completion certificate. The decision, taken at the authority's 219th board meeting chaired by Uttar Pradesh infrastructure and industrial development commissioner Deepak Kumar, is aimed at ensuring land earmarked for housing is put to use rather than left idle for speculative gains. "The board has decided to cancel allotments where houses have not been built even after 12 years. Vacant plots are a violation of rules," said Lokesh M, chief executive officer of the Noida authority. Officials said 17 plots have breached the 12-year threshold without completion certificates. Of these, nine have seen no construction at all and are likely to face cancellation soon. Another 1,500 plots have only partial construction, limited to a single room, kitchen, toilet, or boundary wall, built solely to secure a certificate for resale at a premium. The board took action against developers failing to honour commitments under the state's 2023 "stalled legacy housing projects" policy....